Football
Tuiaki, Ilaisa
Ilaisa Tuiaki
- Title:
- Defensive Line Coach
Hometown: Provo, Utah
Family: Wife Viola, daughters Uini, Leisinia and Heilala, sons Laveatu’u, Lolo, Hilamani and Tavake
Education: Southern Utah, 2006 - political science and english
NOTABLES
16: Seasons as a collegiate assistant coach
135: Total takeaways by the BYU defense during his seven-year tenure as defensive coordinator
223: Pass yards allowed per game by BYU’s defense under Tuiaki
8: Bowl games as an assistant coach
55: Sacks by Utah in 2014 to lead the nation
Broyles Award: 2013 nominee while at Utah
DL Coach Of The Year: One of five finalists for the honor from FootballScoop in 2014
OREGON STATE (2023-present)
• Appointed Oregon State’s defensive line coach on December 12, 2023
• Semisi Saluni started all 12 games in 2024 after coming into the season with 39 games played. Tallied 34 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss
BYU (2016-2022)
• Seven seasons as BYU’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach
• Cougars totaled 20 takeaway, including 15 interceptions, in 2021, ranking 14th nationally
• BYU produced No. 4 scoring defense in 2020, allowing 15.3 points per game. Opponents also totaled 318 yards per game, 11th-fewest nationally
• 2019 defense produced 22 turnovers, 23rd nationally. Cougars No. 37 for red zone defensde
• Coached the No. 18 overall defense in 2018, ranking in the top-25 in four statistical categories
• Coached three draft picks; Khyris Tonga (DL) and linebackers Fred Warner and Sione Takitaki. Defense totaled five total draft selections during his tenure
OREGON STATE (2015)
• One season with the Beavers as the team’s linebackers and special teams coach
• Linebacker Rommel Mageo led OSU with 87 tackles; Caleb Saulo was second with 69
• Punter Nick Porebski averaged 41.1 yards per attempt, and placed 26 punts inside the 20. Porebski named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
UTAH (2012-14)
• Three seasons with the Utes, the last two as defensive line coach. Served as the the running backs and tight end coach in 2012 and defensive line in 2013 and 2014
• Helped Utah to one of its best recent seasons in 2014 and the title of the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
• Two of his linemen earned All-Pac-12 First Team over the last two years, Trevor Reilly in 2013 and Nate Orchard in 2014
• Orchard was also named the Morris Trophy recipient as the Pac-12 top lineman and the nation’s top defensive end by winning the Ted Hendricks Award.
• Tackle Lowell Lotulelei earned Freshman All-America honors
• Utah led the nation for overall sacks with 55 and was sixth for average tackles for loss per game at 7.9 in 2014. In 2013, Utah ranked second for sacks
• Was the only non-coordinator to be nominated for the Broyles Award (top assistant coach) in 2013. In 2014, The FootballScoop pegged him one of its five finalists for its defensive line coach of the year award
UTAH STATE (2009-11)
• Worked with the Aggies’ running backs and and recruiting coordinator
• In 2011 the Aggies were sixth in the nation for rushing, averaging 282.7 yards per game
• Robert Turbin was named the 2011 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 1,517 yards while averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and scoring a school-record 19 touchdowns.
• That same season, Michael Smith was named co-MVP of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
• Three Aggies were drafted during Tuiaki’s career
UTAH (2008)
• Graduate assistant on the defensive side of the ball for the Utes
• The Utes were the nation’s only undefeated team and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to finish No. 2 in the country
KEARNS HIGH SCHOOL (2006-07)
• Coached the wide receivers and outside linebackers in 2006 and was the offensive coordinator in 2007
• He also taught sophomore English at Kearns during those two years
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
• Two-year letterman at running back at Southern Utah. Team captain for the 2003 season
• Also lettered two years at running back at Snow Junior College before transferring to SUU
BOWL GAMES
2021 New Mexico Bowl
2020 Boca Raton Bowl
2019 Hawai’i Bowl
2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
2016 Poinsettia Bowl
2014 Las Vegas Bowl
2011 Sun Bowl
2009 Sugar Bowl
Family: Wife Viola, daughters Uini, Leisinia and Heilala, sons Laveatu’u, Lolo, Hilamani and Tavake
Education: Southern Utah, 2006 - political science and english
NOTABLES
16: Seasons as a collegiate assistant coach
135: Total takeaways by the BYU defense during his seven-year tenure as defensive coordinator
223: Pass yards allowed per game by BYU’s defense under Tuiaki
8: Bowl games as an assistant coach
55: Sacks by Utah in 2014 to lead the nation
Broyles Award: 2013 nominee while at Utah
DL Coach Of The Year: One of five finalists for the honor from FootballScoop in 2014
OREGON STATE (2023-present)
• Appointed Oregon State’s defensive line coach on December 12, 2023
• Semisi Saluni started all 12 games in 2024 after coming into the season with 39 games played. Tallied 34 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss
BYU (2016-2022)
• Seven seasons as BYU’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach
• Cougars totaled 20 takeaway, including 15 interceptions, in 2021, ranking 14th nationally
• BYU produced No. 4 scoring defense in 2020, allowing 15.3 points per game. Opponents also totaled 318 yards per game, 11th-fewest nationally
• 2019 defense produced 22 turnovers, 23rd nationally. Cougars No. 37 for red zone defensde
• Coached the No. 18 overall defense in 2018, ranking in the top-25 in four statistical categories
• Coached three draft picks; Khyris Tonga (DL) and linebackers Fred Warner and Sione Takitaki. Defense totaled five total draft selections during his tenure
OREGON STATE (2015)
• One season with the Beavers as the team’s linebackers and special teams coach
• Linebacker Rommel Mageo led OSU with 87 tackles; Caleb Saulo was second with 69
• Punter Nick Porebski averaged 41.1 yards per attempt, and placed 26 punts inside the 20. Porebski named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
UTAH (2012-14)
• Three seasons with the Utes, the last two as defensive line coach. Served as the the running backs and tight end coach in 2012 and defensive line in 2013 and 2014
• Helped Utah to one of its best recent seasons in 2014 and the title of the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
• Two of his linemen earned All-Pac-12 First Team over the last two years, Trevor Reilly in 2013 and Nate Orchard in 2014
• Orchard was also named the Morris Trophy recipient as the Pac-12 top lineman and the nation’s top defensive end by winning the Ted Hendricks Award.
• Tackle Lowell Lotulelei earned Freshman All-America honors
• Utah led the nation for overall sacks with 55 and was sixth for average tackles for loss per game at 7.9 in 2014. In 2013, Utah ranked second for sacks
• Was the only non-coordinator to be nominated for the Broyles Award (top assistant coach) in 2013. In 2014, The FootballScoop pegged him one of its five finalists for its defensive line coach of the year award
UTAH STATE (2009-11)
• Worked with the Aggies’ running backs and and recruiting coordinator
• In 2011 the Aggies were sixth in the nation for rushing, averaging 282.7 yards per game
• Robert Turbin was named the 2011 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 1,517 yards while averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and scoring a school-record 19 touchdowns.
• That same season, Michael Smith was named co-MVP of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
• Three Aggies were drafted during Tuiaki’s career
UTAH (2008)
• Graduate assistant on the defensive side of the ball for the Utes
• The Utes were the nation’s only undefeated team and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to finish No. 2 in the country
KEARNS HIGH SCHOOL (2006-07)
• Coached the wide receivers and outside linebackers in 2006 and was the offensive coordinator in 2007
• He also taught sophomore English at Kearns during those two years
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
• Two-year letterman at running back at Southern Utah. Team captain for the 2003 season
• Also lettered two years at running back at Snow Junior College before transferring to SUU
BOWL GAMES
2021 New Mexico Bowl
2020 Boca Raton Bowl
2019 Hawai’i Bowl
2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
2016 Poinsettia Bowl
2014 Las Vegas Bowl
2011 Sun Bowl
2009 Sugar Bowl
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